Ford County

Hot and dry conditions have meant more work for firefighters in Ford County. Tuesday firefighters there worked to stop at least three fires, including one near Mullinville. Already this month Ford County has dealt with 42 fires. One of those was a grass fire Monday in the Wilroads Garden area. That fire burned around five acres of land and put four homes in danger. The siding on one of those homes was damaged, but fire crews were able to stop it from damaging the inside of the home.

A crash in Ford County kills a 16-year-old boy. Zachary Konrade died when his pickup crashed late Saturday night. The crash happened at 129th Road about 7 miles southwest of Spearville. Two other teens in the truck were hurt. Police say the passengers were wearing seatbelts, but Konrade was not. Investigators say the truck may have been speeding. Konrade was from Bucklin.  

A Ford County candidate says losing the primary isn't stopping his campaign. Mike Burkhart lost by four votes to current commissioner Chris Boys. But Burkhart will continue to run as a write-in candidate. The two will also face Democratic challenger, Rebecca Escalante. Burkhart said he chose to continue because of the encouragement of his supporters, many of whom he said were not able to vote during the primary election. Some voters in the district received an incorrect ballot which left off this race.

A head on collision between two semi trucks in Ford County kills two people. A Kansas Highway Patrol dispatcher tells us it happened just before two o'clock in the morning along Highway 54 west of Bucklin near Bloom. At least one of the trucks caught fire. The road was closed until after nine when wreckers got there to take the trucks away. The names of the two people killed have not been released.

The Ford County Sheriff has identified the victim of a deadly shooting northwest of Dodge City. Hunters found the body of 24-year-old Pedro Morales Christmas Eve morning. Detectives believe he was killed nearby, but are still trying to figure out when. Investigators say an unregistered 2006 Dodge Stratus they found in the area could hold clues in the case. They're also looking for three people of interest who may know something about the shooting -- but may be on the run.

A Kansas City man dies after an accident Thursday in Ford County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says it the collision happened just before midnight on U.S. 54 east of the K-34 junction. The KHP says 22-year-old Mat Sdit of Kansas City, MO, was driving west on U.S. 54 when he went left of center. Investigators say Sdit collided with an eastbound semi. Sdit was taken to a Dodge City hospital where he died. One person in the semi was treated for a possible injury.

Ford County authorities are looking for a man who could be connected with a shooting in Dodge City this morning. Police are looking for Irvin McDonald as a person of interest in the case. The shooting happened around 3:00 this morning.   Police say the victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. McDonald is also wanted on a warrant from a previous incident.  If you have any information, you're asked to contact police.

The race was separated by just three votes, but a final count of provisional ballots does not change the outcome of the Ford County Commission District 2 Republican primary. Monday, county officials counted 38 provisional ballots in the race. Michael Burkhart still defeated incumbent Chris Boys for the district 2 Republican primary. After the count, Burkhart won by just two votes instead of three. "Well, it was a good close election, and I think the reason why the folks chose me is because of my knowledge, my background and my reputation," said Burkhart.

A special election in Dodge City picks a winner in a primary race that was split by just two votes. The election held Tuesday in Ford County affected the Ford County Commission District 2 Republican primary. In August Michael Burkhart defeated incumbent Chris Boys by two votes. After the election, county officials determined 41 voters in that race received the wrong ballots, which did not include Boys and Burkhart. Tuesday those 41 voters were allowed to cast new ballots. After the special election, Boys won the race over Burkhart by four votes.

11 Sedan, KS (Chautauqua County) 6:30pm CST The talk will be held at the VFW located at 520 W. Walnut.         13 Eureka, KS (Greenwood County) 6:30pm CST Talk will be held at the Eureka High School Auditorium.     20 Lincoln, KS (Lincoln County) 6:30pm CST The talk will be at Lincoln High School located at 701 E. North St.     21 Salina, KS (Saline County)

A Ford County candidate says losing the primary isn't stopping his campaign. Mike Burkhart lost by four votes to current commissioner Chris Boys. But Burkhart will continue to run as a write-in candidate. The two will also face Democratic challenger, Rebecca Escalante. Burkhart said he chose to continue because of the encouragement of his supporters, many of whom he said were not able to vote during the primary election. Some voters in the district received an incorrect ballot which left off this race.

A man is killed after his vehicle crashes into a semi truck in Ford County. It happened Sunday afternoon just two miles east of Kingsdown on US 54. The Kansas Highway Patrol says that 61-year-old Douglas Close of Kingsdown was driving his truck southbound when he failed to yield to a semi and was hit. The driver of the semi-truck was not injured.

An Offerle man dies after a Monday morning crash in Ford County. The Kansas Highway Patrol says a car was driving north on 127, about 18 miles east of Dodge City. The driver stopped at a stop sign at U.S. 50, but didn't see an on-coming pick-up. The car collided with the pick-up, which rolled twice. The woman driving the car was not hurt. The driver of the pick-up was taken to a Dodge City hospital where he died. The victim had been identified as 44-year-old Dale E. Wetzel of Offerle.

A special election in Dodge City picks a winner in a primary race that was split by just two votes. The election held Tuesday in Ford County affected the Ford County Commission District 2 Republican primary. In August Michael Burkhart defeated incumbent Chris Boys by two votes. After the election, county officials determined 41 voters in that race received the wrong ballots, which did not include Boys and Burkhart. Tuesday those 41 voters were allowed to cast new ballots. After the special election, Boys won the race over Burkhart by four votes.

The race was separated by just three votes, but a final count of provisional ballots does not change the outcome of the Ford County Commission District 2 Republican primary. Monday, county officials counted 38 provisional ballots in the race. Michael Burkhart still defeated incumbent Chris Boys for the district 2 Republican primary. After the count, Burkhart won by just two votes instead of three. "Well, it was a good close election, and I think the reason why the folks chose me is because of my knowledge, my background and my reputation," said Burkhart.

In the middle of Dodge City Days, the Ford County Courthouse celebrates its own place in history. Today marks the buildings 100th year anniversary. It was built in 1912 with $100,000. Through the years, the building has undergone new enhancements and various renovations. Ford County District Judge, Van Hampton told Eyewitness News, "I was very pleased to see all the people and their interest they have with the court and the Courthouse. And it is interesting to look at the history of the Courthouse here because of course the courthouse is an important part of the county" Certain sections of the Ford County Courthouse were open to the public for tours.

Hot and dry conditions have meant more work for firefighters in Ford County. Tuesday firefighters there worked to stop at least three fires, including one near Mullinville. Already this month Ford County has dealt with 42 fires. One of those was a grass fire Monday in the Wilroads Garden area. That fire burned around five acres of land and put four homes in danger. The siding on one of those homes was damaged, but fire crews were able to stop it from damaging the inside of the home.

Officials in Dodge City and Ford County cut the ribbon for the new Western State Bank Expo Center.  It will host the 3i show for the next five years. The annual agriculture expo announced it would move to Dodge City last year.  The new building has 170,000 square feet inside.  Officials call it a community team effort.  "I really am please that this event is really something the community owns, they can actually get behind and really say, this is ours, we built it, we made it, we can utilize it the way we want.

A 19-year-old from Texas dies in a crash Wednesday in Ford County. The crash happened just after 5:30 p.m. on Eagle Road about six-and-a-half miles west of Spearville. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 19-year-old Thomas Vernard Mosley, Jr., of Humble, Texas was driving west on Eagle Road when for some reason he ran off the road. The KHP says Mosley over-corrected, went off the other side of the road and hit an embankment. Mosley was taken to a Dodge City hospital where he died.